On
the Issues (note:
this information is based on explanations
received on May 14, 2003 via e-mail from Marcel
Rodden,
who
is
developing
a web site for the Ontario CPC). The CPC
is encouraged to contact Mondo Politico to
correct
any inaccuracies):
Schools
- At present in Ontario, parents are required
to pay for government owned-and-operated
schools
(i.e., what are popularly called "public" schools)
even if their children do not attend them: this
is known as "universality" in education.
The Communist Party would continue universality
in education and decrease private-sector involvement
in schools. The party stands for what it calls "Universal
Quality Public Education". It would invest
$20 billion over
5 years in public education and adopt a needs-based
funding model. It would rescind the
private school tax credit and provide no public
funding for private
schools. "Lease-backs" would be
banned, as would public-private-partnerships
(P3s) in public
schools. "Uncertified" teachers would
be banned. The CPC takes the position that we
currently
do not have a liberal arts curriculum, such that
it needs to be "restored". The CPC
would make classes smaller and develop "full
service schools". It says it would "restore
local
autonomy and democracy" and remove
provincial Supervisors.
Health
Care -
At present, all taxpaying Ontarians are required
to pay for a health care system operated, and
largely owned, by the government, whether or
not
one is using health care services: this is known
as "universality" in health care. Private
companies are currently prohibited from competing
with the government in the provision of most
health care services: the government has a monopoly
in health care. The Communist Party would continue
the monopoly, and expand it. It stands for what
it calls "Universal Quality Public Health Care".
It would implement the Romanow Report
without further delay. Public-private-partnerships
("P3s") would be banned: P3 hospitals or
clinics would not be permitted to operate or
exist. The CPC would increase health
care funding without delay and expand medicare
to cover "denticare".
Electricity
- In
May of 2002, the government discontinued
the practice
of controlling the price charged by electricity
generators: this discontinuance is commonly
referred
to as "deregulation". In December of
2002, the government imposed a control on the
price paid directly by the small-scale consumer
of electricity (i.e., residences and small businesses).
Under this "price cap", if the price
charged by a generator 4.3 cents or less, the
taxpayer pays only for his own consumption. If
the actual cost of the electricity is more than
4.3 cents, the difference is to be paid out of
a fund collected by Ontario Power Generation.
If there is not enough money in the fund, Ontarians
will pay the difference through the taxes they
pay (e.g., PST). The
Communist Party wants electricity to be government
owned and regulated in an east-west
power
grid. The party would phase
out nuclear
power, restore nuclear plants to public control
(some, such as Bruce, are leased to a private
consortium). The CPC says it would "develop"
new sources of energy including solar and wind
power,
and phase-out coal
fired generating
stations.
Municipalities
- The Communist Party would provide municipalities
with new wealth taxing powers, or, substantially
increase statutory grants to provide adequate,
stable funding. It would transfer 50%
of gas and road-user taxes to municipalities,
and remove
(and upload) the costs of education, health,
housing, welfare and transit from the property
tax. It says it would "recognize municipalities
and public school boards in Canada's
Constitution" (i.e., a constitutional amendment:
at present, a municipality's law-making powers
are delegated to it by the provincial Legislature).
Taxes
- The Communist
Party says it stands for "taxing the greedy,
not the needy". It would rescind corporate
tax cuts, restore the
corporate
tax share to 19%, eliminate
taxes on incomes below $35,000, tax corporate
assets (keep the capital tax), eliminate the
PST, restore the corporate minimum tax, collect
all unpaid and deferred corporate taxes, introduce
a progressive tax system based on ability to
pay, and introduce wealth and inheritance taxes
on estates over $500,000.
Candidates:
None
listed on the Party web site as of February
27, 2003.
On
the Issues:
Unique
to CoR: English the Only Official Language -
The Confederation of Regions Party states "English
official language of Ontario. CoR would hold a
referendum on Bill 8, The French Language Services
Act. English is the official language of Ontario
and CoR would keep it that way. People may use
whatever language they wish, but documents relating
to business, financial records and licenses would
be in English."
Schools
- At present in Ontario, parents are required
to pay for government owned-and-operated schools
(i.e., what are popularly called "public"
schools) even if their children do not attend
them: this is known as "universality"
in education. The Confederation of Regions Party
states "Single Publicly Funded Education
System. CoR believes in providing the same education
for all citizens. If parents want something different
for their children, they are free to provide it."
Health
Care
- At present, all taxpaying Ontarians are required
to pay for a health care system operated, and
largely owned, by the government, whether or not
one is using health care services: this is known
as "universality" in health care. Private
companies are currently prohibited from competing
with the government in the provision of most health
care services: the government has a monopoly in
health care. The Confederation of Regions Party
states "Adequately Funded and Efficiently
Run Health Care. CoR's plan for health care would
give individuals more responsibility over their
own health care. There would be some costs that
people could afford, but no charges for devastating
illnesses which could ruin people financially.
We are not, however, in support of a two tier
health care system."
Electricity
- As of February 28, 2003, we can find no Confederation
of Regions Party policy specifically concerning
electricity.
Municipalities
- As of February 28, 2003, we can find no Confederation
of Regions Party policy specifically concerning
municipalities.
Taxes
- As of February 28, 2003, we can find no
Confederation of Regions Party policy specifically
concerning taxes.
Unique
to Family Coalition: Government "Protection
and Promotion" of Families headed by Heterosexual
Couples or by Single Persons - The Family
Coalition Party supports the institutional value
of marriage, which Family Coalition defines as
"the union between a woman and a man recognized
by the State and/or by the Church". Family
Coalition states that "only this definition
will be used in the provision of spousal benefits
and for any program funded or administered by
the government." Family Coalition defines
"nuclear family" in a similar way. It
states that a nuclear family "...may be composed
of: a) a married couple with their biological
or adopted children, or b) a single parent with
his biological children, or children adopted during
a previous marriage, or c) a heterosexual Common
Law couple with their biological or adopted children."
According to those definitions of marriage and
family, the Family Coalition party believes that
"government has a fundamental obligation
to protect and promote the well-being of the family
and family members through political, economic,
social and juridical policies, which aim at consolidating
the unity and stability of the family".
Schools
- At present in Ontario, parents are required
to pay for government owned-and-operated schools
(i.e., what are popularly called "public"
schools) even if their children do not attend
them: this is known as "universality"
in education. The basic thrust of the Family Coalition
policy on education is that parents would choose
a school for their child, but the government would
provide a basic tuition amount to all children,
whether or not their parents need financial assistance.
A Family Coalition government would set minimum
requirements for school certification, including
minimum curriculum requirements. It would administer
standardized tests at grades 5, 8, 10, and at
the end of high school.
Health
Care
- Highlights: An Ontario Coalition government
would eliminate any ceiling on doctors' fees.
It would give every person receiving OHIP benefits
an itemized account of the cost of such benefits.
The Ontario Coalition would give health-care
workers
the power to refuse to participate in any procedure
which is contrary to their moral conviction or
religion (e.g., abortion). The Ontario Coalition
would introduce HIV antibody screening premaritally
on admission to any Ontario hospital and upon
incarceration in any Ontario correctional facility.
The Ontario Coalition would provide medical students
with tuition, books, and living expenses for
each
year of medical school in exchange for an equal
number of years in under-serviced areas of Ontario.
Electricity
- As of February 28, 2003, we can find no Family
Coalition Party policy specifically concerning
electricity.
Municipalities
- As of February 28, 2003, we can find no Family
Coalition Party policy specifically concerning
municipalities.
Taxes
-
Highlights: The Ontario Coalition supports the
flat tax and $14,000 personal basic exemption
for Ontario income tax purposes. The Ontario Coalition
would allow a combined tax return between husband
and wife, so that a family would be taxed according
to the total combined income. Family Coalition
would have all after-tax money donated by an individual
to a non-profit organization at "arms length"
deducted from the donor’s taxable income.
Schools
- At present in Ontario, parents are required
to pay for government owned-and-operated
schools
(i.e., what are popularly called "public"
schools) even if their children do not attend
them: this is known as "universality"
in education. Freedom Party would end that requirement:
parents whose children did not go to a public
school would not pay for public schooling. Instead
of collecting an education tax, parents would
pay their child's school directly: "from your
pocket, to the school of your choice". Government
financial support would be provided
to those in demonstrable need to ensure that
every child would receive an education. Freedom
Party supports not just "choice in schools" but
"choice in education": Freedom Party would not
impose government control over curriculum in
independent schools.
Health
Care
- At present, all taxpaying Ontarians are required
to pay for a health care system operated, and
largely owned, by the government, whether or not
one is using health care services: this is known
as "universality" in health care. Private
companies are currently prohibited from competing
with the government in the provision of most health
care services: the government has a monopoly in
health care. Freedom Party would end the prohibition
against competition: it would allow private companies
to compete with government health insurance and
government health services. Ontarians would no
longer be required to pay for government health
care services they do not use and could choose,
instead, to buy health insurance offered by a
company (e.g., Blue Cross). Businesses would no
longer be prohibited from setting up and operating
hospitals, clinics etc. in competition with government
facilities.
Electricity
- In
May of 2002, the government discontinued
the practice
of controlling the price charged by electricity
generators: this discontinuance is commonly
referred
to as "deregulation". In December of
2002, the government imposed a control on the
price paid directly by the small-scale consumer
of electricity (i.e., residences and small businesses).
Under this "price cap", if the price
charged by a generator 4.3 cents or less, the
taxpayer pays only for his own consumption. If
the actual cost of the electricity is more than
4.3 cents, the difference is to be paid out of
a fund collected by Ontario Power Generation.
If there is not enough money in the fund, Ontarians
will pay the difference through the taxes they
pay (e.g., PST).
Freedom Party would eliminate government price
controls on electricity: consumers could instead
cap their own electricity price by entering
into a contract with an electricity retailer
(electricity retailers buy electricity at a price
that is sometimes low and sometimes high, but
sell the electricity to consumers for
a
single,
capped price per kWh). Freedom Party would require
government-owned utilities
to allow consumers to turn their power meters
backward by feeding wind and solar power back
into the grid (i.e., "net metering").
Municipalities
- Freedom Party proposes two main changes in
municipal funding. First, in co-operation
with municipal governments, Freedom Party
will replace the property tax with
a consumption
tax (for example, a tax on fuel, or a tax
on sales): you will not have to pay property
tax
to keep
your
home
(rents
will
decrease
also,
because landlords will not pay property tax
either). Second, Freedom Party is opposed
to taking money from the
taxpayers
in one
city
and
spending
it
on municipal
services in another city. For example, Freedom
Party would not use provincial tax revenues
to
fund the TTC in Toronto. Freedom Party says that,
by not redirecting tax dollars from smaller
towns
into cities like Toronto, jobs will move closer
to where Ontarians live. Specifically, to
stay in Toronto, some businesses will have
to
raise their employees' wages enough that the
employees can afford to pay the full price
of such things
as transportation and housing:
in the alternative, businesses could set
up
in
less crowded,
less
expensive towns or cities, closer to their employees.
Freedom Party takes the position that,
by decreasing
the amount of traffic heading into and out of
Toronto, there will be less traffic congestion,
less road rage, less pollution, less need for
highway expansion, and less time away from
family.
Taxes
- Freedom Party would stop the taxation by
Ontario of capital gains. As noted above, Freedom
Party would eliminate property taxes and replace
lost municipal revenues with a consumption tax.
Freedom Party would reduce sales taxes only after
decreasing
income
taxes. If more tax was collected than was needed
to cover provincial expenditures, taxes would
be lowered and/or the surplus would be used to
pay down the provincial debt.
Schools
- At present in Ontario, parents are required
to pay for government owned-and-operated schools
(i.e., what are popularly called "public"
schools) even if their children do not attend
them: this is known as "universality"
in education. The Green party proposes a single
school system, owned and operated by the government.
They suggest a system in which the government
provides the "same basic services" to
all schools. The Greens focus their reforms on
changes to curriculum. Specifically, the Greens
say that "Education should be rooted in Green
philosophy", meaning cooperation instead
of competition (i.e., socialism instead of capitalism),
"authentic human interaction" instead
of bureaucracy, and "sustainable resource
use" instead of "consumption".
Health
Care
- The general slant of the Green Party's health
care policy is to focus more on illness prevention
instead of treatment. This focus takes the form
of such things as information campaigns, sin taxes
(e.g., a "junk food tax" would be imposed,
and alcohol/tobacco taxes would be further increased),
and having the taxpayer pay for "drugs of
all kinds...that prove effective in helping people
live healthier, happier lives."
Electricity/Energy
- The Green Party would not so much seek to increase
the supply of energy, but to decrease the use
of it: conservation instead of more energy. This
would involve "the use of taxes, charges
and when necessary regulation, to reduce the scale
of energy use, and especially of fossil fuel use".
To help decrease energy consumption, travel would
be discouraged with such things as road use charges
and the government supply of nearby amenities
(so that you don't need to travel as often). Green
Party would shut down the nuclear power generators
(which, of course, would decrease supply immensely)
as soon as practicable and build no more nuclear
power generators. Green Party wants private "monopolies"
or private "concentrations of economic power"
to be regulated if they are "capable of influencing
the market for electric power in their favor".
Green Party would require the incorporation of
energy and energy efficiency in the teaching of
school subjects such as mathematics, chemistry
and physics.
Municipalities
- Green Party wants legislation that promotes
the use of recycled material over virgin materials
through fees, taxes, price supports, and tax credits.
It opposes garbage incineration. Green Party would
place "the responsibility of pick-up, recycling,
and reuse of all products and packaging material"
on manufacturers: "For example included in
the cost of the purchase of a car would be a levy
that would be used to dismantle, recycle and reuse
the remains of the car". Green Party would
impose an immediate ban on new landfill site construction.
It would ban the export of recyclable materials.
It would ban compostable material from landfill
collection. Green Party would reintroduce rent
controls. Green Party proposes a new Heritage
Act outlining guidelines to cover not just
historic buildings but also the "natural
heritage of the landscape": agricultural
land, wood lots, heritage buildings, wetlands,
coastlines and waterways. Green Party would encourage
the zoning of current single family homes into
multiple family units. It would encourage infilling
and intensification of our cities and discourage
"urban sprawl" with Greenbelts around
all urban centres in Ontario (the greenbelt policy
has also been borrowed by the Liberal Party in
its 2003 election platform with respect to Toronto).
Taxes
- The Green Party believes that the provincial
government should begin a revenue neutral tax
shift from income and consumption taxes to resource
taxes (examples: emissions, land, water, trees,
fossil fuels, air, minerals, metals and aggregates).
Candidates:
None
listed on the Libertarian Party web site as of February
27, 2003.
On
the Issues:
Schools
- At present in Ontario, parents are required
to pay for government owned-and-operated schools
(i.e., what are popularly called "public"
schools) even if their children do not attend
them: this is known as "universality"
in education. The policy of the Ontario Libertarian
Party is to complete end all government participation
in education.
Health
Care
- At present, all taxpaying Ontarians are required
to pay for a health care system operated, and
largely owned, by the government, whether or not
one is using health care services: this is known
as "universality" in health care. Private
companies are currently prohibited from competing
with the government in the provision of most health
care services: the government has a monopoly in
health care. The Liberal Party would continue
universality in health care, and would continue
to prohibit companies from competing with the
government health services monopoly. The policy
of the Ontario Libertarian Party is to get government
entirely out of health care. A libertarian government
will eliminate any requirement for government
licensing of physicians, medical treatment facilities,
or other medical care providers. Private
certification, says the Libertarian Party, will
fill the gap to satisfy the need to know whether
someone is qualified to provide medical treatment.
Electricity
- As of February 28, 2003, we can find no Libertarian
Party policy specifically concerning electricity.
Municipalities
- A Libertarian government would limit the services
municipalities could operate on a tax funded basis;
all other services and facilities would be provided
by voluntary, private funding. The costs for these
"core" services would be allocated according to
property size and frontage. Regional and Metropolitan
levels of government would be eliminated to reduce
costs and increase accountability.
Taxes
- The Libertarian Party is against taxes,
period. However, they suggest tax reforms while
taxes are still being imposed. They suggest a
single rate income tax; that taxes are used only
for their stated purpose (e.g. revenues from a
"road tax" should be used only for roads);
that the sales tax should be "phased out
of existence".
Schools
- At present in Ontario, parents are required
to pay for government owned-and-operated schools
(i.e., what are popularly called "public"
schools) even if their children do not attend
them: this is known as "universality"
in education. Parents of children who attend a
private school currently receive an education
tax credit equal to 10% of the independent school
tuition paid for their childrens' tuition. A Liberal
Party government would eliminate this education
tax credit. A Liberal Party government would also
create programs intended to encourage educators
in better government schools to improve education
in government schools that are not educating children
quite as well.
Health
Care
- At present, all taxpaying Ontarians are required
to pay for a health care system operated, and
largely owned, by the government, whether or
not one is using health care services: this
is known
as "universality" in health care. Private
companies are currently prohibited from competing
with the government in the provision of most
health
care services: the government has a monopoly
in health care. The Liberal Party would continue
universality in health care, and would continue
to prohibit companies from competing with the
government health services monopoly. A Liberal
Party government would attempt to improve the
quality of government health care by having physicians
work in teams along with nurses and nurse practitioners.
Electricity
- In May of 2002, the government discontinued
the practice of controlling the price charged
by electricity generators: this discontinuance
is commonly referred to as "deregulation".
In December of 2002, the government imposed a
control on the price paid directly by the small-scale
consumer of electricity (i.e., residences and
small businesses). Under this "price cap",
if the price charged by a generator 4.3 cents
or less, the taxpayer pays only for his own consumption.
If the actual cost of the electricity is more
than 4.3 cents, the difference is to be paid out
of a fund collected by Ontario Power Generation.
If there is not enough money in the fund, Ontarians
will pay the difference through the taxes they
pay (e.g., PST). A Liberal Party government would
would keep the 4.3 cent price cap on electricity
in place until 2006. It would close Ontario's
coal-based electricity generators by 2007. It
would require more conservation of electricity
to make up for at least part of the resulting
decrease in electricity. A Liberal Party government
would also build more government owned and operated
power generation facilities.
Municipalities
- A Liberal Party government would prohibit the
development of 1 million acres of land surrounding
the GTA and Golden Horseshoe. It would dedicate
two cents per litre of the existing gasoline tax
to public transit. It would create 20,000 new
"affordable" housing units. A Liberal
Party government would bring back real rent control:
after a tenant vacated a unit, there would be
a limit on the amount for which the landlord could
offer to rent the unit to a new tenant.
Taxes
- Dalton McGuinty has said that a Liberal
Party government would neither increase nor decrease
taxes.
Schools
- At present in Ontario, parents are required
to pay for government owned-and-operated schools
(i.e., what are popularly called "public"
schools) even if their children do not attend
them: this is known as "universality"
in education. Parents of children who attend a
private school currently receive an education
tax credit equal to 10% of the independent school
tuition paid for their childrens' tuition. An
NDP government would eliminate the 10% education
tax credit. The NDP is opposed to any plan to
introduce charter schools, merit pay, tax credits,
voucher schools, or partial vouchers. An NDP government
would allow school boards to "raise up to
10%" beyond the provincial formula. It is
not clear whether "raise" refers to
a raise in taxes or a raise in spending (or to
both).
Health
Care
- At present, all taxpaying Ontarians are required
to pay for a health care system operated, and
largely owned, by the government, whether or not
one is using health care services: this is known
as "universality" in health care. Private
companies are currently prohibited from competing
with the government in the provision of most
health
care services: the government has a monopoly
in health care. An NDP government would continue
universality in health care, and would continue
to prohibit companies from competing with the
government health services monopoly. It would
attempt to fund the government health care system
without private sector involvement by asking
the
federal government to give Ontario more federal
tax revenues.
Electricity
- In May of 2002, the government discontinued
the practice of controlling the price charged
by electricity generators: this discontinuance
is commonly referred to as "deregulation".
In December of 2002, the government imposed a
control on the price paid directly by the small-scale
consumer of electricity (i.e., residences and
small businesses). Under this "price cap",
if the price charged by a generator 4.3 cents
or less, the taxpayer pays only for his own consumption.
If the actual cost of the electricity is more
than 4.3 cents, the difference is to be paid out
of a fund collected by Ontario Power Generation.
If there is not enough money in the fund, Ontarians
will pay the difference through the taxes they
pay (e.g., PST). An NDP government would not sell
government-owned electricity assets and would
not allow power generators to raise electricity
prices when a lot of electricity is being used
(e.g., during a hot summer): it would re-impose
a cap on the price charged by electricity generators.
It would ban the construction of nuclear plants
and close coal burning power generation plants.
An NDP government would want 20 per cent of all
electricity generation will be produced from renewable
sources by 2020 (solar, wind, etc.). An NDP government
would implement an extensive program of "incentives"
for energy conservation. The nature of the incentives
has not been disclosed but one thing can be ruled
out as a possibility: because periods of high
demand would have no effect on the price of electricity,
prices would not be used to encourage conservation.
Municipalities
- An NDP government would dedicate three cents
per litre of the existing gasoline tax to transportation:
60% to public transit, and 40% to roads. Almost
50% of the money would be directed to Toronto,
with smaller amounts being concentrated in other
cities. It is unclear how much transportation
money, if any, would be spent on transportation
in smaller towns.
Taxes
- An NDP government would increase corporate
taxes and impose steeper income taxes for those
earning more than $100,000 a year. Those earning
more than $150,000 would face a 6% tax increase.
Schools
- At present in Ontario, parents are required
to pay for government owned-and-operated
schools
(i.e., what are popularly called "public"
schools) even if their children do not attend
them: this is known as "universality"
in education. Parents of children who attend
a private school currently receive an education
tax credit equal to 10% of the independent school
tuition paid for their childrens' tuition. In
their election platform, the Tories say that
they will "speed up" (they don't say how much)
the schedule for phasing in a partial tax credit
in respect of tuitions paid to independent schools.
The stated plan is for a total savings of $3,500
/ year when the tax credit is fully phased-in.
The PC platform does not say whether eligibility
for the tax credit will depend upon meeting government-dictated
curriculum. What is known is that Ernie Eves
has stated: "These tax credits should
be available only to parents whose children are
in schools that teach the curriculum set out
by the Ministry of Education." (Globe
and Mail, November 16, 2001), and "The
Ontario government's plan to finance private
education without
controls over curriculum is ludicrous"
(Globe and Mail, December 18, 2001). Also, the
platform states that "independent schools will
be required to assess students in core subjects
and tell parents how
progress is measured."
Other
key educational proposals set out in the PC
platform include: prohibiting
education strikes, lockouts and work-to-rule
job action
during the
school year; not graduating high school students
who cannot read and write; requiring that
every school board provide parents with an
annual report on each of its
schools, including staffing, salaries, enrolment,
average test results and details of a plan to
improve student performance; allowing outside
experts to run a club, coach sports and lead
other extra curricular activities; and requiring
that phonics tools be made available for
all teachers in all schools. (more
detail: "The
Road Ahead" policy paper on education).
Health
Care -
At present, all taxpaying Ontarians are required
to pay for a health care system operated, and
largely owned, by the government, whether or
not
one is using health care services: this is known
as "universality" in health care. Private
companies are currently prohibited from competing
with the government in the provision of most
health care services: the government has a monopoly
in
health care. A Progressive Conservative government
would continue universality in health care,
and
would continue to prohibit companies from competing
with the government health services monopoly.
Although certain private sector MRI and CT scan
services will be permitted to provide services,
they will not compete with the government system:
they will instead be a part of it. Health Minister
Tony Clement has made it clear that, under a
PC government, "queue jumping" (using
ones own money to pay a non-governmental service
provider
for sooner service) would continue to be prohibited
even in such privately owned, publicly funded
clinics. A Progressive Conservative Party government
would attempt to improve the quality of health
care by trying to manage the government monopoly
better. The Progressive Conservative Party plans
to provide: more
hospitals (by leasing them from private landlords,
who would build and own them), more cancer research,
more mental health care, more
cataract
and osteoporosis
funding (a greater share of existing funding),
more money for prostate cancer testing, more
nurses, more doctors, and more. The Platform
does not indicate how these additional things
will be paid for though, with respect to hiring
additional people, the platform does say "We
will hire new employees where required, but the
overall size of the public service will NOT increase":
it is possible, therefore, adding doctors
and nurses etc., would involve dismissing some
civil servants. (more detail: "The
Road Ahead" policy paper on health care)
Electricity
- In May of 2002, the government discontinued
the practice of controlling the price charged
by electricity generators: this discontinuance
is commonly referred to as "deregulation".
In December of 2002, the government imposed
a
control on the price paid directly by the small-scale
consumer of electricity (i.e., residences
and
small businesses). Under this "price cap",
if the price charged by a generator 4.3 cents
or less, the taxpayer pays only for his own consumption.
If the actual cost of the electricity is more
than 4.3 cents, the difference is to be paid
out
of a fund collected by Ontario Power Generation.
If there is not enough money in the fund, Ontarians
will pay the difference through the taxes they
pay (e.g., PST). A PC Party government would
would
keep the 4.3 cent price cap on electricity in
place until at least 2006, or later if thereafter
there is still insufficient generation capacity
to
make electricity affordable. (more detail: "The
Road Ahead" policy paper on energy).
Municipalities
- The Progressive Conservatives would prevent
municipalities from imposing new taxes, or
raising old ones,
without approval from the public (through
a referendum). (more detail: "The
Road Ahead" policy paper on municipalities)
Taxes
- The Progressive Conservative platform contained
one new tax cut proposal. Specifically, people
still paying off their home mortgage will be
able to deduct
up
to $5,000.00 worth of mortgage interest from
their taxable income (five years from now, this
would reduce taxes payable by about $500.00).
This tax cut
would
not be immediate: it would be phased in over
five
years
(governments
usually call an election after four years in
power). The PC platform also stated that municipal
tax increases, or new municipal taxes, would
require a successful vote in a referendum. The
other main tax item was announced in March of
2003: seniors will not pay the provincial (education
tax) portion of their property tax (a savings
of about $475 per year on average, for seniors
only). (more detail: "The
Road Ahead" policy paper on taxes etc. and the policy
paper on seniors)
